This information is for orientation only. Working beyond Aufenthaltstitel limits can lead to permit revocation. Verify with Ausländerbehörde and your international office.

Student work roadmap

  1. Valid title
  2. Offer
  3. Vertrag
  4. Lohnabrechnung
  5. Steuererklärung (if useful)
  6. After graduation (§20 AufenthG)

Student checklist — before accepting a job

  • Aufenthaltstitel §16b with compatible work permission.
  • Non-EU: track 140 days or 280 half days/year.
  • Werkstudentenvertrag: max 20 h/week during semester (standard rules).
  • Minimum wage respected — €13.90/h from 1 January 2026.
  • Steuer-ID — Required for payslips.

Work rules during studies

ProfileLimitNote
Non-EU student140 days or 280 half daysAnnual count — not just hours/week
Werkstudent20 h/week in lectioReduced contributions; verify contract
Minijob≤ €603/month (2026)Special contribution regime
PraktikumPflichtpraktikum vs voluntaryMandatory may be unpaid within rules

Last updated: May 2026 — Minijob-Zentrale

Typical contracts

  • Werkstudentenvertrag — Part-time with employer recognising status.
  • Minijob — Café, logistics, events.
  • HiWi (Hilfswissenschaftler) — University research assistant.
  • Werkvertrag / freiberuflich — Caution: often incompatible with study visa.

Minimum wage and Minijob (2026)

ItemAmount
Hourly minimum wage€13.90 gross/h
Minijob monthly max€603
Werkstudent 20 happrox. €1,112/month gross at minimum (indicative)

Last updated: May 2026 — BMAS — minimum wage

Payslip and tax

  • Brutto-Netto — Social contributions (~20%) + Lohnsteuer above threshold.
  • Steuer-ID — On every payslip.
  • Steuererklärung — Often worthwhile for low-income students (refund).
  • Deadline — Usually 31 July of the following year (with adviser: February year+2).
  • ELSTER — Free tax filing portal.
  1. Wait for Steuer-ID after Anmeldung.
  2. Give Steuerklasse to employer (students often class VI or I).
  3. Keep monthly Lohnabrechnungen.
  4. Consider Steuererklärung via ELSTER or Lohnsteuerhilfe.

Where to find work

  • HiWi-Stellen — University site / professors.
  • Jobbörse BA — Arbeitsagentur
  • Indeed, StepStone, LinkedIn
  • Hospitality / logistics — High demand, evening shifts.

After graduation

  • §20 Abs. 3 AufenthG — Permit to seek qualified employment (up to 18 months).
  • EU Blue Card — Annual salary threshold — check Make it in Germany.
Alcohol and transport

Zero tolerance for new drivers; night BVG/DB services reduced outside weekends.

Quick reference

Germany is generally safe for students; main risks: theft on transport, rental scams, and cycling incidents. Central emergency number 112.

  • 112: medical/fire emergency
  • 110: police
  • Cycling: strict lights and signals — real fines
  • Protests: keep distance if you do not know the context

Day-to-day safety

Daily life

  • Do not leave bags on metro seats
  • At night: lit routes and busy stops
  • Register phone IMEI

Common scams

Ghost rentals, fake agents, German-language “package delivery” phishing.

  • Never pay before viewing
  • Verify IBAN matches landlord

Emergencies

If something goes wrong

  • Theft: police report (Anzeige) for insurance
  • Violence: 110 + campus support
  • Consulate for lost documents

If something goes wrong

Practical rights

National rule

Lease contract governs many disputes. Mieterverein (tenants’ association) advises for a fee in German.

Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Employment patterns (summary)

PatternNote
MinijobMonthly earnings threshold updated yearly—check current € limit and insurance effects
MidijobGraduated social contributions between lower and upper thresholds
Working student (Werkstudent)Enrolled students: classic 120 full days / 240 half days rule for many non-EU cases—confirm with your Ausländerbehörde
Standard employmentWritten Arbeitsvertrag; probation, hours, and leave under law and company agreements

Minimum wage & payslips

Statutory minimum wage

Set under the Minimum Wage Act; higher sector minima can exist via collective agreements.

Payslips

Social insurance and wage tax appear on your monthly statement—archive PDFs.

Federal Employment Agency

Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), job placements, and training programmes—online or in branch.

Works council (Betriebsrat)

In larger workplaces the works council co-determines many changes—ask HR whether one exists.

Non-EU students working

Stay within your residence permit’s work limits; exceeding them can jeopardise your permit.

Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Sources · Last verified: 2026-05

  • Police / consumer advice (official link being updated)
Trusted sources we used for this content

Public sources such as Eurostat, EU institutions, the Federal Government, Make it in Germany, BAMF, the Federal Foreign Office, BZSt, BMF / ELSTER, the Federal Ministry of Health, DAAD, and German federal laws online. Figures change—not legal or tax advice.